Thursday, July 10, 2014

US/Germany: Update--Germany Asks US Intelligence Official to Leave Berlin

According to Reuters, Germany has
asked a US intelligence official assigned to the US Embassy in Berlin to leave the
country in connection with investigations into American
spying in Germany, a Chancellor Merkel's spokesperson said on Thursday (July 10).

COMMENT: "The request was made in light of the ongoing investigation by the
chief federal prosecutor and questions that have been raised for months
about the activities of US intelligence services in Germany," Steffen
Seibert said in a statement.

Considering that Washington has offered no explanation as to why it has continued to target the German government from a hostile intelligence standpoint, Berlin's action seems reasonable and understandable.

The only possible explanation for the US Government's strange behavior is my recent posting linked below on the increasing relationship between Beijing and Berlin:

Nevertheless, if Washington had a problem with Germany's growing relationship with China, it should have communicated its concern to Berlin, given the fact that the BND and US intelligence continue to have regular contact.

The above being said, the intelligence targeting of Germany has been underway well before Berlin began establishing closer dialogue with China, considering that that US was eavesdropping on Chancellor Merkel's mobile phone nearly two years ago.

At least publicly, the US has never communicated to Germany why it has continued to engage in hostile intelligence gathering. As recent as a week ago, Berlin continued to be puzzled by Washington's behavior, which has included the arrest of a German national who offered his services to the US.

About Me

I retired from the US State Department in April 2006, after a career as a special agent, Senior Regional Security Officer (SRSO), director of training, chief investigator of the Cyprus Missing Persons Program, director of security of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and as a senior adviser in the Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance.
My book, STAYING SAFE ABROAD: TRAVELING, WORKING AND LIVING IN A POST-9/11 WORLD was published in May 2008.
A complete update of STAYING SAFE ABROAD 2015, will be release during early 2015 for the iPad, Kindle and Nook and other e-readers.
I am a former Federal Firearms Dealer (US), a certified NRA pistol instructor and a certified NRA Range Safety Officer.
My career has also included 15 years as an international security consultant; for ten years I served as the security adviser to the Inter-American Development Bank.
I additionally, served six years in the Marines, which included combat service in Vietnam.
I am available for operational assignments, lecturing opportunities and in providing security solutions anywhere in the world.